Frame for hand-bags or pocket-books



No Model.)

O. A. LEHMAN.

FRAME FOR HAND BAGS OR POCKET BOOKS.

Patented Jung '7, 1887.

N. PETERS. Phnlu-uxhagmpmr. washingwm-Q. G

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

OTTo A. LEHMAN, or BROOKLYN, new YORK.

FRAME FOR HAND-BAGS OR POCKET-BOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,357, dated June 7, 1887.

Application iilerl May 1D, 1886, Serial No. 902.606. l(No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, OTTO A. LEHMAN, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Frames for Hand- Bags or Pocketdooks, of which the following is a specification. Y

Although my invention is applicable to the frames of hand-bags and pocket-books of different constructions and provided with clasps or catches of different character, its advantages are particularly apparent when employed in connection with a clasp'or catch such as forms the subject of my United States Patent No. 338,351, dated March 23, 1886, and when used upon bags in which the bag fabric is connected with the frame by gussets, so as to form a bag with bellows-like sides.

The invention consists in a bag or pocket` book frame having horizontal tubular members, which comprise portions offset above the portions extending in opposite directions therefrom to the ends of the frame. This offsetting of portions of the frame serves to strengthen the latter, and it also serves as a very convenient point for the attachment of the clasp or catch; and when a clasp or catch of the kind shown in my aforesaid patent is employed in connection with a gusset-bag the catch is raised by thc offset portions of the frame so that it swings above the side portions of the bag and is not liable to strike or engage said side portions.

The invention will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represent-s a bag having its side portions connected with the frame by gussets, and embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the bag and the frame.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both gures.

AAdesignate the two members ofthe frame, which are here represented -as tubular, and with which the side portions, B, of the bag are connected by gussets C. The members A of the frame have between their ends and at corresponding pointsportions A,which are offset more or less above the general top of the frame, as very clearly shown in Fig. l. These offset may vary in configuration, the only essential being that they shall be offset above the portions of the frame which extend from them in opposite directions to the ends of the frame, or, in other words, that they shall be offset above the general top of the frame. This oli setting of the frame is advantageous, because it strengthens it, and it forms a very convenient place upon which to arrange the clasp or catch for securing thetwo members A A of the frame together in order to close the bag.

The clasp or catch D which I have represented is like that which forms the subject of my aforesaid latent No. 338,351; and it consists of a hook which is pivoted at dV to the offset portion A of one member of the frame, and which when pressed down engages with and passes over the oil'sct portion A of the other member of the frame. This hook is so constructed that when it is pressed down into position to close the bag its point will pass beyoud the portion of the frame which has greatest projection in a direct line from the pivot d, and therefore the hpok will remain in secure engagement with the member or portion of the frame over which it is pressed. This construction of the frame with upward offsets, and with a hooked clasp ol' the kind described, is particularly advantageous with a gussetbag, because then the hook is raised by the offset portion so that it will not strike or embrace t-hc upper edges of the bag fabric B, even though they be bent inward, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and even though such side portions of the bag extend'npward to a level with or slightly beyond the general top of the frame.

What I claimras my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The bag or pocket-book frame herein described, having horizontal tubular members A A, which comprise portions A', offset above the portions which extend in opposite directions to the ends of the frame, substantially as herein described.

2. The frame herein described, having at about the middle of its length portions which are offset above the general top of the frame, and a catch applied to such upwardly-offset portions, substantially as herein described.

portions A may he of any suitable length, and

IOO

frame, of the hooked clasp D, applied to the lo offset portions, whereby the said clasp is prevented catching on the bztg fabric when closing` the bag, substantially as herein described.

OTTO A LEHM AN.

3. The combination, with the frame coinprising upwardly-offset portions A', of the hooked clasp D, pivoted to one offset portion and engaging directly with the other offset portion, substantially as herein described.

4L. The combination, with it bag-frame to which the upper portions of the bag fabric :tre connected by gussets, and which comprises portions A', offset above thegeneral top of the Witnesses:

FREDK. I-IAYNEs, MINER PINDEMANn 

